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Finnair has confirmed it will be introducing a new premium economy cabin on its long-haul services. The Helsinki-based firm says the new cabin will feature “highly customised designs” and “provide customers with increased space and comfort along with an enhanced service offering”.

Passengers will have to wait to enjoy the new product however, with the rollout not due to begin until the end of 2020. Airline management are hoping to offer the new cabin across the entire fleet by the end of 2022.

Finer details such as commercial partnerships, catering and the first aircraft types to be upgraded are still to be confirmed, with the Finnish flag carrier stating that these will be “communicated at a later stage”. It is not yet clear what – if any – impact the move will have on Finnair’s existing ‘Economy Comfort’ product, which offers extra legroom seating towards the front of the economy cabin.

Piia Karhu, senior vice president, customer experience at Finnair said: “We see a growing trend of quality-focused travellers, who place a strong focus on the comfort and quality of their travel experience. Responding to customer needs from all our key markets, our new Premium Economy class will serve the requirements of both leisure and corporate customers.”

Meanwhile, the Finnish flag carrier has also announced it will revamp the interiors of its ATR fleet. The Franco-Italian turboprops are currently deployed on domestic flights in Finland, as well as short-haul regional services to the Baltics, Gdansk, and Stockholm through Finnair’s partner Norra.

Passengers can expect new seats and carpets in addition to “a harmonised and fresh cabin interior design”. The first aircraft with the renewed cabin is expected to be in operation in summer next year, with all 12 ATRs updated by the spring of 2020.

The regional feeder traffic provided via the Norra partnership is an important element of the wider Finnair network, with over 30,000 ATR flights every year.

Current Issue

February 2019In the February edition of Airliner World we travel to Larnaca in Cyprus to join the final commercial flight for the British Airways Boeing 767 fleet. The widebody has been a workhorse of the British flag carrier for decades, with a fascinating history spanning far-flung royal charters to more modest domestic operations. As we close one chapter of modern aviation, another begins as we visit Airbus headquarters in Toulouse to find out more about their A330neo project. We speak to key players involved in the project and determine what the future holds for the crowded - but highly lucrative - mid-market sector.
Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Gulf Air CEO Krešimir Ku&#269;ko, as the Bahraini national airline transforms not only its fleet but its wider strategy as it adopts a new boutique concept. Continuing our globetrotting this month, we profile Osaka’s Itami Airport, which is carving a niche as the city’s premier domestic gateway and visit Canada’s Northwest Territories to learn more about the classic ‘piston-pounders’ of Buffalo Airways. As part of our ongoing historical insights, we remember the Lockheed Electra L-188, an elegant, four-engine turboprop which raised the bar for performance, range and luxury until critical design flaws destroyed public confidence and forced the programme to a premature close.
Finally, we bring you our comprehensive coverage of worldwide news, including a full report from the Bahrain International Airshow, plus Cathay Pacific roster their A350-1000 to Manchester, ANA receive their first superjumbo, a first look at WestJet’s new Dreamliner, and Air Astana unveil their Embraer E2 in a striking snow leopard livery. We also have our regular sections covering the latest commercial aircraft acquisitions, up-to-date accident reports and developments from the world of aviation training and MROs and we give you the chance to win aviation DVDs worth over £200 in our reader competition.